SILVER MICROPOWDER HAVING EXCELLENT AFFINITY FOR POLAR MEDIUM, AND SILVER INK

摘要

Disclosed is a silver nanoparticle which has a relatively high boiling point in spite of having a relatively low molecular weight, which has a low viscosity and a low surface tension, and which has good affinity (dispensability) for ?-butyrolactone (C4H6O2) which is an organic solvent having less irritant odor. Specifically disclosed is a silver micropowder which comprises silver particles, wherein each of the silver particles has at least one component selected from 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (C11H8O4) and gallic acid (C7H6O5) adsorbed on the surface thereof and also has an X-ray crystal grain diameter (Dx) of 1 to 40 nm, preferably 1 to 15 nm. The silver micropowder has excellent affinity for at least ?-butyrolactone. Also disclosed is a silver ink which comprises silver particles dispersed in ?-butyrolactone, wherein each of the silver particles has an organic compound having a carboxyl group adsorbed on the surface thereof, and also has an X-ray crystal grain diameter (Dx) of 1 to 40 nm, preferably 1 to 15 nm (which corresponds to an average particle diameter (DTEM) of 3 to 40 nm, preferably 4 to 15 nm, as measured by TEM observation).